Top league fails to raise a team

The county's top bowls league has been forced to make an embarrassing late withdrawal from the Shropshire Senior Inter-League.

The Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League boasts a collection of the best bowlers in the region – but has been unable to raise a 12-man side for Saturday's big event in Whitchurch.

"Even last year we only had seven of the top 25 players in the averages playing so I was struggling to get a side together then," said league supremo Mark Burroughs.

"This year, out of the current top 12 we found that 11 weren't available and one could only play if he changed his shift at work.

"We could have got a team if we'd dropped to the top 100 but it wouldn't have been the strongest of sides so we decided to withdraw our team."

Burroughs admits they will have to plan further in advance next year if they are to consider returning.

"Three or four of our players are playing for other leagues and some of them play in Staffordshire on a Saturday," he added.

"I think we will have to find out at the start of next season whether anyone is interested in playing."